Graham Brock, Inc.
Broadcast Technical Consultants
Vol. X, No. 1
January 2003
This month Graham Brock begins its tenth year in business. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for making this possible. It seems like only yesterday that we started the company and it’s hard to believe this much time has passed. We have enjoyed working with each of you and look forward to working with you for many years to come.
The FCC has issued a Notice of Inquiry regarding whether to allow unlicensed transmitters to operate in the same spectrum as television broadcasters. The Commission indicates that the significant advance of technology makes it possible for low power, unlicensed transmitters to have an on-board database of TV stations to verify, based on GPS, the location of the unlicensed transmitter in reference to the TV station. This would allow the selection of an unused frequency. The equipment can be designed to be frequency agile to prevent the unlicensed transmitters from interfering with licensed broadcast users. In addition to the use of open TV frequencies, the Commission is also considering the use of the 3650 to 3700 MHz range for similar devices. The Commission has designated this proceeding as OET Docket #02-380. The text of the notice had not been issued as of this writing.
Two unlicenced FM stations operating in the Naples, Florida, area were shut down by the Commission. Each operator was fined $10,000 for the operation of an illegal station. One of the operators, after having been ordered to shut down, continued operation the following day, but the field agents were still in the area and detected the signal. The operator stated that he had been told that a low power FM did not require a license. He did, however, file an application for a low power FM station that was pending at the time of the inspection. That application was subsequently dismissed by the Commission, since it was not filed in a window. The operator claims that he was duped by the party from whom he was leasing the stations.
A Nevada station was recently cited for failing to keep its operating antenna system from causing radio frequency radiation levels in excess of the requirements for non-controlled (public accessible) areas. An FCC inspector traveled to the site and found that the area around the transmitter was accessible to four wheel drive and all terrain vehicles. The access road leading to the site was not gated and the station operated with a high level of power on a relatively short tower. There was evidence that the area was regularly used by off-road vehicles. The inspector noted a RFR level more than twice the allowable limit in this area. The station was authorized prior to the implementation of the controlled and uncontrolled environment requirements. While meeting the less restrictive requirements for controlled areas, it failed to meet the more stringent requirements for uncontrolled environments. Make sure the RFR levels of your facilities in uncontrolled environments are within limits. If not, you should further restrict the access to the site to be in compliance.
The FCC cancelled a proposed fine of $22,000 to a broadcaster in Louisiana. The Commission’s Field Office inspected the station in July 2001 and found that it had failed to install EAS equipment and had no public file. The licensee did not respond to the initial FCC Notice. When the Commission issued the Forfeiture Order, indicating the licensee was liable for a fine, the licensee responded that an EBS system was monitored on a 24 hour basis to ensure messages were relayed and that the public file had been mistakenly moved to another sales office. While the FCC did not consider an EBS system sufficient, they did, however, reduce the fine by $10,000, since the station was able to show that the public file did, in fact, exist. Upon a showing of financial hardship, the Commission waived the remaining forfeiture, but admonished the licensee for failure to respond to a FCC Notice and for not installing the EAS equipment.